Report: 49ers LB coach Nickerson will leave for Illinois

Inside linebackers coach Hardy Nickerson is expected to leave the 49ers to become the Illinois defensive coordinator, Sports Illustrated reported.

Nickerson has spent each of his three seasons as an NFL assistant under Smith, working with him in Tampa Bay (2014-15) and Chicago (2007).

Lukabu joined Western Michigan in January after spending 2015 as the linebackers coach at Florida International.